Have you ever been stuck? Imagine you have an adversary who is making your life extremely difficult. Certified letters come in the mail, and you are summoned to a court hearing. You have prayed, and it seems that God is not acting on your behalf. You ask God, "If you are my Father, why don't you help me?" In the court room, the judge adds insults to your injury and has no empathy for you. Where do you turn?

Jesus told a parable about a woman in a situation like that, to show his followers that they should "always pray and not give up." The woman wanted what was rightfully hers. And yet she appeared to be powerless, without money or connections to bail her out, and she lost case after case. But she continued to bother the judge. This harsh judge, who didn't care what God or people thought, finally acted on her behalf, and she received what was rightfully hers.

In the midst of hopelessness in this world, Jesus promises hope in a far greater courtroom, where he defends his own. He says, "Will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly."

Followers of Christ are called to be persistent in the midst of adversity, for we have a mighty Advocate who comes to our defense!